John Paul McCombe (born 7 May 1985) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre back. He made 473 league and cup appearances in a 19 year professional and semi-professional career, scoring 29 goals. His brother, Jamie, also played professional football. McCombe graduated through the Huddersfield Town Academy to make his first-team debut in May 2003. Unused in 2003–04, he also rarely featured in 2004–05, 2005–06, and 2006–07. During this time he a brief periods on loan at Torquay United, though he never took to the field for them. He spent the 2007–08 season with Hereford United, helping the club to win promotion into League One. McCombe joined Port Vale in May 2008, and after establishing himself in the first team in 2008–09 and 2009–10, he managed to win the club's Player of the Year Award in 2011. He helped the club to secure promotion out of League Two in 2012–13. After leaving Port Vale in May 2013, McCombe signed for Mansfield Town on a free transfer. He left Mansfield for York City in January 2014, and stayed with York for two years. He joined Macclesfield Town in February 2016, and played in the club's defeat at the 2017 FA Trophy Final. He signed for Chester in June 2017 before moving to Harrogate Town in February 2018, who he helped to win promotion out of the National League North via the play-offs three months later. He signed with Boston United in June 2018, but left the club two months later without making a first-team appearance and moved on to Hyde United. Career Huddersfield Town Born in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, McCombe joined Huddersfield Town as a trainee, and was converted from playing as a centre forward to become a centre back. He made his first-team debut on 3 May 2003, coming onto the pitch as a late substitute for Jon Stead in a 1–1 draw with Oldham Athletic at Kirklees Stadium. Unused in the 2003–04 season, he had to wait until September 2004 for his next first-team appearance. He made seven appearances in 2004–05. McCombe's only appearances of 2005–06 were against Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup – where he only played because of injuries and suspensions, against Boston United in the Football League Trophy – when manager Peter Jackson rested all his first-team players, and on the last match of the season against Swindon Town. In between